SMU Prepares to Celebrate Opening of Bush Presidential Center

SMU is preparing to celebrate the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and welcome the worldwide visitors who will attend dedication events on campus April 24-26. The Bush Center, located on a 23-acre site on the east side of campus, houses the Presidential Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. The Library and Museum will open to the public May 1.

Information about parking, road closures and campus events April 24-26 is available at smu.edu/BushCenter.

Due to space limitations, attendance at the dedication ceremony planned by the Bush Center April 25 is by invitation only. The invited guests expected to attend include President Barack Obama and former presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, along with other government officials from the administration of George W. Bush.

The ceremony will be streamed at BushCenter.org. Residents of University Park and Highland Park also can view the ceremonies on SMU-TV, Channel 19.

Although dedication events will bring a large number of special visitors to campus, SMU will remain open so that teaching will continue uninterrupted. To accommodate class attendance, alternative transportation and parking plans are available at smu.edu/wheretopark. Students with parking questions may email parking@smu.edu or call 214-768-7275.

“While classes will continue as normal, the entire SMU family should expect that our routines will be altered temporarily,” said Brad Cheves, vice president for development and external affairs. “We are honored to be serving in a hospitality role for this once-in-a-lifetime event and to welcoming visitors to campus who ordinarily would not become familiar with SMU. We are looking forward to showing what makes our University special and a fitting location for the historical resources of the Bush Presidential Center.”

Events for students, faculty and staff include:

April 25: Watch a simulcast of the Dedication Ceremony
The SMU community will have the opportunity to watch a simulcast of the formal dedication ceremony at McFarlin Auditorium (SMU ID required). Doors open at 9 a.m. Students should register here. An outdoor jumbotron north of University Boulevard, near the Dedman Life Sciences Building and the Late Fountain also will show the proceedings. Students also may watch the dedication at 9 a.m. CDT online at bushcenter.org or on Park Cities Cable Channel 19.

April 25: SMU Boulevard Block Party
During the evening of April 25, students, faculty and staff have been invited to attend the SMU Boulevard Block Party and Lighting of Freedom Hall. If you registered for the block party, you must pick up your tickets in advance at the Hughes-Trigg Mane Desk at any of the times noted below. The first 500 students to pick up their tickets will receive commemorative Croakies; the first 1,000 people to pick up their tickets will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Monday, April 22: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 23: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 24: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 25: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

April 29: SMU Day at the Bush Presidential Center
April 29 is a special preview day at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum for SMU faculty, staff and students. All available spaces have been taken. Visit smu.edu/smuday for more information.

Please note that SMU IDs are needed for SMU students, faculty and staff to enter events during the week of the Bush Center dedication.